WASHINGTON, DC – THE United States is reportedly considering major changes to PEPFAR, the flagship initiative that provides funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and medication in developing countries.
According to a report published Wednesday (Jul. 23) by The New York Times, officials at the U.S. State Department are exploring a plan to wind down the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the coming years. The potential shift comes even after the programme narrowly avoided major cuts during recent negotiations tied to President Donald Trump’s “One Beautiful Bill.”
The Times reported that internal documents reviewed by the outlet show the State Department is being urged to “chart a new course” for PEPFAR, one that reflects a more bilateral approach to global health—a strategy believed to prioritize how diseases like HIV/AIDS affect the United States directly.
When pressed on the report during a briefing Thursday (Jul. 24), Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department, Thomas Pigott, emphasized that Secretary Rubio remains committed to PEPFAR and that the program continues to be a top priority.
“I will take a step back when we’re talking about aid programs in general. Part of the new vision of this administration when it comes to aid is looking at recipients of aid, or at least the communities, as allies and partners, not those that are dependent on this aid, and in the long term working towards a scenario where we have the same needs being provided by local partners or other entities as part of that long-term effort when we’re talking about aid in general," he explained.
He added, “PEPFAR, though, is an important and lifesaving program that will continue.”
Pigott reiterated that there is no immediate plan to shut the programme down, despite broader discussions around the future of U.S. foreign aid.
“Well, look, what I can say now is that PEPFAR – as I just said, that important and lifesaving program that will continue. That’s what our policy currently is here. Again, talking about that longer term, when we’re talking about aid in general, is when we’re talking about those local institutions being able to fulfill a lot of those needs, looking at people as trade and allies, not as those that are dependent on aid. That’s a broader aid vision that is from this administration. But when it comes to PEPFAR, as I said, that it will continue.”
Earlier this year, Congress restored $400 million in PEPFAR funding after nearly $8 billion was proposed to be slashed from the U.S. foreign aid budget. Still, concerns remain that low-income countries like Haiti, Sudan, and several African nations—where PEPFAR has reportedly saved more than 26 million lives—could suffer if long-term cuts go through.
